By Norman Levin, , Seattle
Kudos to the JTNews editor for his courageous stand regarding the unconscionable leniency given to Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz for his conviction of assault injury by vehicle. The letters of support from Rabbi Schwartz’s congregants were not unexpected, but in my opinion were a disgusting display of indifference to the suffering of the deceased’s family.
Being a member of the clergy, of any religious persuasion, does not preclude the perpetrator of a crime from a punishment that fits the crime. Rabbi Schwartz had previously committed at least eight infractions, including hitting a cyclist, and the accidental killing of a pedestrian demands a more severe penalty than the one meted out by the presiding judge.
As the JTNews editor pointed out in his article, the judge showed leniency partly because of the traumatizing effect that imprisonment would have on the rabbi and his family. What about the effect that the death of Tatsuo Nakata will forever have on his family? Is that just a trivial matter?
In the case of the State versus Schwartz, justice has not been served.